Individual freezing cup with ice release



Feb. 1,1944. L. L M LLARD 2,340,676

INDIVIDUAL FREEZING CUP WITH ICE RELEASE Filed Dec. 4, 1941 Patented Feb. 1, 1944 mm STATES asias'vs PATENT j Orr-"icmmvmuu. FREEZING CUP- wrrn ICE amass for use indomestic refrigerators, and is particularly concerned with containers of the individual type in contradistinction to the conventionalevaporator tray utilizing a grid to divide the tray into a plurality of cubeeforming compartments.

An object of the invention is to provide a freezingcontainer having ice-dislodging means of simple construction associated therewith, the entire unit being capable of manufacture on a lowcost production basis.

Another object is to provide individual freezing containers resembling the conventional mumn or cup-cake tin having ice-dislcdging means operatively associated therewith but readily separable therefrom, adapting the container for use in making ice cubes or blocks or for baking or other purposes.

A further object is to provide ice-dislodging means of an extremely simple yet highly eflicient nature for use with annular containers and which means may be sold as a separate unit for application to a container whenever it is desired to use the latter for freezing liquids.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will become apparent in view of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a container and coacting ice-dislodging means in accordance with the invention; I

Fig. 2 is a view' similar to Fig. 1 but showing the ice-dislodging member removed from the container;

Fig.3isaplanview,and

- Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is. a plan view of a modified form of container;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line i -\,Il"ig. 5;

Fig. '1 is an elevation of a further modified type of container; and V I Fig. 8 is a perspective of a still further modificatiori.

Referring to the drawing in detail, a container isindicated at ll and may be of the conventional mumn or cup-cake type having synclinal side walls defining .a freezing chamber of rounded contour. Preferably. but not necessarily, the

outer surface of the container adjacent the bottom thereof is provided with gripping members H to assist in holding the container-against rotation when using the ice-dislodging mechanism in a manner hereinafter described. The interior bottom surface ofthe container is provided with a cam projection I! which in the form shown in Figs. 1' to 4, inclusive, consists in indenting themetal of the bottom wall. The top of the icontainer is preferably formed with a head or flange l3.

A container of this low-cost production basis and sold as a cup-cake or mumn tin or for general baking purposes, and i when it is desired to use the same for freezing ice cubes from water or other liquids or fluids, ice-dislodging means separable from the container is used. Such means as here shown comprises an annular member or ring ll having a knurled gripping surface M, a depending flange i8 and an inwardly projecting flange it, said flanges lying at substantially right angles to one another to engage the bead l3 and provide bearing means whereby the-ring is maintained in proper centered position on the container yet may be freely rotated with respect to the container. The flange i8 is enlarged or projected inwardly as at iito form a support for a downwardly pro- .iecting finger or stud l8 which is embedded in the ice when the water or other fluid is frozen.

The ice-dislodging ring just described is common to all of the different types ofcontainers illustrated in the drawing, the modifications in Figs. 5, 6, '7 and 8 relating to the container rather than to the ring.

In Figs. 5 and 8 the projection tainer of Figs. 1 to 4 is substituted by wedgeshaped' cam'members 20 and 20' which project upwardly into the container and are frozen into the ice when the latter is formed. when the ice block in the container is turned or angularly displaced, the cam members :8 tend to urge the block upwardly. as will be readily understood.-

The container in these ilgures is indicated at as.

Fig. 7 illustrates a container it" having a.

knurled gripping surface ll which may consist of a strip of abrasive material cemented on the exterior wall of .the container and bearing indicia relating to advertising or any other desired matter. This type of gripping surface is of particular I advantage where the containers are given as favors or prizes to advertise certain'products.

Fig. 8 illustrates a container il' having a base I? formed with a series of radial proiections 23 to facilitate gripping of the container.

The manner in which the device operates will i be obvious in view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the drawing. Whenever it is desired to use the container for making ice blocks or cubes, it is filled with the liquid or other material to-be frozen, the ring ll applied and the entire unit placed in the freezing comtype may be made on a n of the conpartment of a refrigerator. Upon freezing, to remove the ice block or cube, the container is grasped with one hand and the ring with another and relative rotation imparted to the contrainer and ring, whereupon the ice block is turned in, its 'freezing chamber, cams I! or' 20 assisting in the dislodging action.

It will be understood that certain limited changes in construction and design of the container and coacting ice-dislodging means may be made without departing from the scopeof the invention as defined by the appended claims.

- What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a container having a rounded freezing chamber, ice-dislodging means comprising an annular centrally open member rotatably mounted on the'top of the container and carrying a fixed downwardly-projecting finger or stud to be embedded in the ice mass resulting from the freezing of a fluid in said chamber, said finger being eccentrically disposed with respect to the axis of the chamber whereby, when relative rotation is imparted to the container and said member, the ice mass is dislodged from said chamber.

2. In combination with a container having a rounded freezing chamber, ice-dislodging means comprising a ring having means rotatably supporting the ring on the top edge of the container, said ring being provided with a fixed downward-projecting finger tb be frozen in the ice mass resulting from the freezing of a fluid in said chamber whereby, when the ring is rotated with respect to the container the ice mass is dislodged from said chamber, said ring being provided with a knurled outer surface and said container being provided with gripping means to for the ring on the top edge of the container,

a fixed finger secured in said inwardly projecting flange and extending downwardly into the chamber to be embedded in the ice mass during freezing of a fluid in said chamber, said finger being eccentric with respect to the vertical axis of the chamber whereby, when relative rotation is imparted to the container and ring, the ice mass is dislodged from said chamber.

4. In combination with a container having a portion thereof.

5 jecting fiangetogether defining a bearing seat for the ring on said beaded edge, the radially inwardly projecting flange of said ring being formed with an enlargement, a finger or stud fixed in said enlargement and projecting down- 1 wardly into said chamber to a point normallybelow the liquid level of the fluid to be frozen, the bottom wall of said container being formed with acam member projecting upwardly into the chamber to facilitate dislodgment of the frozen 15 mass when relative rotation is imparted to the ring and container.

5. In combination with'a container having a rounded freezing chamber. ice-dislodging means comprising a ring having a downwardly project- 20 ing flange and a radially inwardly projecting flange together defining a bearing seat whereby the ring is rotatably supported on the top edge ,of the container, a fixed finger secured in said radially inwardly projecting flange and extend- 5 ing downwardly into said chamber to a point normally below the liquid level of the fluid to be frozen whereby, when relative rotation is imparted to the container and ring the frozen ice mass is dislodged from said chamber, the outer 30 surface of said ring and container being provided with gripping means to facilitate such relative rotation.

6. In combination with a container having a rounded freezing chamber, ice-dislodging means 86 comprising a ring having a downwardly projecting flange and a radially inwardly projecting flange together defining a bearing seat whereby the ring is rotatably supported on the top edge of the container, a fixed finger or stud secured in said radially inwardly projecting flange and extending downwardly into said chamber to a point normally below the liquid level of the fiuid to be frozen whereby, when relative rotation is imparted to the container and ring the frozen ice mass is dislodged from said chamber, the outer surface of said ring andcontainer being provided with frictional gripping means to facilitate such relative rotation; the gripping means for said container being in the form of a strip 0 of roughened material cemented to the outer surface of said container and bearing indicia on a LOGAN L. MALLARD. 

